Tickets are now on sale for the world music band BARAKA gig at the Community College. Available from the T.I.C and the community college.
Sam Prince
At the end of January 2010 representatives acting on behalf of the Faringdon House Estate provided a presentation to Faringdon Town Council's Planning and Highways Committee. This provided details of the proposals for land adjacent to the Gloucester Street Car Park which being promoted by the Estate.
In response to points raised by the Town Council Committee members and comments made by the local community at the public meeting, the Estate has created a website setting out further information for the community regarding the emerging proposals. This is available to view via the weblink below:
www.faringdonhouseestate.co.uk
In summary, we consider the main benefits of this proposal are:
It is located close to the Town Centre of Faringdon and is not 'out of town'
The site has good pedestrian linkages with the Town Centre and the Gloucester Street Car Park
It offers strong potential for linked shopping trips with existing shops in the Town Centre
The provision of new car parking to the benefit of the Town Centre
The land is available for development and commercial interest has been shown from main operators
We hope the website provides the local community with more detailed information regarding one of the proposals for Faringdon. The website will be updated with more information during the coming weeks, but in the meantime, we hope it answers some of the questions you may have.
Michael Knott, Senior Planner, Barton Willmore LLP
I agree that Witney offers a good shopping experience. However, for non-drivers, to get there requires travel on two buses (changing at Kingston Bagpuize or Botley Road, Oxford) and takes between 50 minutes (on a good day!) and 80 minutes. Similar times to get to/from Abingdon. Journeys to Oxford/Swindon take approx 30 minutes. A mini-bus could negotiate the bridge at Radcot - reducing journey time to Witney to about 30 minutes, but will any bus company provide one?
Sheila
we accept dogs at The Faringdon Coffee House, all we ask is that you follow the steps for dog Etiquette that the Kennel Club have drawn up, these are:
Make sure that your dog is well trained and that it will sit, stay and come on command. .Make sure that your dog doesn't disturb others by barking.
Not everybody will love your dog as much as you do - make sure that it does not jump up at or pester other people.
Dogs are allowed in areas that serve and sell food but they must stay out of food preparation areas.
Do not allow your dog to touch other people's food.
Make sure that your dog is clean before entering the premises.
Make sure that your dog is house trained.
Make sure that you always clean up after your dog - it is your responsibility!
Thanks
The Faringdon Coffee House
red key fob with "stock" written on
contact 244660
Nearly 100 people had a wonderfully colourful Palestinian evening on Saturday in the Catholic Church Hall. A fantastic spread of East-Mediterranean food - displays - and Palestinian dancing provided by 15 enthusiasts flown in on the 66 bus from Oxford.
We're in the process of setting up friendship links with a village called ARURA - just 20 km north of Ramalla - and similar in size to Faringdon.
Anyone interested: the first Arura-Faringdon-Friendship Association (AFFA) meeting is on the 23rd February: 7.30pm ; in the Friends Meeting house in Lechlade Rd.
All welcome!
Sjoerd (241707)
...An enjoyable experience.. even for men.
Yesterday my Grand Daughter decided that a trip to check out the new shopping complex, Marriott's Walk, in Witney, would be a good idea. My wife decided she had a point and I decided (as usual) that any argument would be futile...So we went.
The drive, 12 miles, 26 minutes, was pleasant. Speed limits through the villages were acceptable and the pot holes in the road added a touch of excitement as I tried not to hit them .
M&S, Debenhams, Monsoon, Next ,etc provided enjoyable browsing opportunities (I was told) A couple of superior restaurants (offering menus with English subtitles) and a cinema complex promised evening entertainment not equalled locally.
The Woolgate Shopping Centre and the genuinely bustling High Street are minutes away
So, men, still not convinced ? Well consider this..
There are many FREE car parks locally and the Marriott's Walk Complex includes an 8 storey car park, with almost 600 FREE places for 3 hours
The first few floors had the usual crowd of 4x4s and cars with baby seats which I try to avoid because most owners seem to have taken a "How to ding your neighbour's car" course. By level 5 parking slots became more numerous and on floor 6 I had the place almost to myself. Floors 7 and 8 allowing 5 hours parking FREE still had plenty of spaces and this was on a Saturday.
Somehow I no longer felt very interested in a Tesco's with about 100+ free parking slots or a Budgen's with an extra 8 (Unfree)
HGM
I disagree with the disparaging remarks made by one resident about Budgens staff and quality of food. I do my weekly shop online but enjoy popping into budgens for the odd bits and bobs. I am always surprised when I go in by the friendliness of the staff and the range of products available.
I love the sections with local food which would never be available in Tesco. I enjoy buying meat, eggs and veg from here as the standard is so much higher than the supermarket. For me it is not the quality of staff or produce which draws me away but the convenience of free parking and of course and online shop!
On the town open day I was so impressed by Budgens who got so involved, hosting a band and all the staff being dressed up in traditional gear. Would Tesco do that?
name supplied
George and his owners was wondering about the new management at the crown. Seeing they are not keen on live music will it be the same for dogs we need to know where we are welcome after faringdon walk
dog walker
Just to let you all know, that pitchforks and burning torches are buy one get one free at Morrisons, hope this helps.
Also, I think we are more Lark rise, Candleford are far more forward thinking than us. I always thought that we were twinned with Brigadoon anyway, you know, only comes alive once every one hundred years!
Twister.
Please note that Faringdon Town Council has today submitted to the District Council its response to the additional consultation being held by the Vale of White Horse District Council. This submission can be viewed on the Faringdon Town Council website www.faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk under News and Newsletters.
Faringdon Town Council
What a valuable rare rural resource Farmer Gow's is for Longcot and district. There were a dozen farms in Longcot before the war.
D John Forster
Tis good to have a choice of Pharmacies, more choice than the weekly shop at least; BUT if the Faringdon Pharmacy is to "grow" then it needs bigger premises. You can't for one thing get a pushchair in there which I thought in this PC age was illegal. Sounds like name supplied has some vested interest so get together and make the "prescription cover" for the Town and villages better. Everyone benefits by some common sense being shown then
A Bevin
I am disgusted at the proposals for redevelopment of Portway to extend Budgens. I am in the process of purchasing a property there and can assure everyone I wont be budging! I will use Budgens as other residents do for the day to day shop but continue to go out of town for the weekly shop. Unless of course Tescos gets the go ahead when I will use that. I dont believe that Tescos will ruin the town but understand the concerns from the Budgens owner only (not the barbers or butchers as Tescos wont be cutting hair and budgens currently sells meat anyhow) However from my knowledge of people in Faringdon I would say that most people shop out of town now and will shop in town if Tescos goes ahead. Forget the PORTWAY plan because as long as I am a resident it wont go ahead!
Portway resident
If Sainsburys at Stratton gets turned into housing, then the land they own opposite the new police station will be the new LARGER proposed store, making it even closer to Faringdon. So, a larger Sainsburys, larger Budgens, Larger Costcutter, and a rather large Tescos are on the cards. Best we all get the petition going NOW to get a bypass to bypass the bypass, because all the large delivery lorries doing the rounds in and around Faringdon, and along the A420, will cause gridlock.
I have my own idea and proposal, and its this..... meet you at the barracades 5 O'Clock sharp OK. Pitchforks and burning torches will be made available.
Oh how I wish we all lived in Candleford, hang on a minute......we do don't we?
namesupplied
I think its fantastic to have a late night and early morning pharmacy! i understand your frustration in the fact that you could not get your medication, but i think it must be understood that (after working in a pharmacy for over 5 years) there are hundreds of thousands of different medications out there and not all stock can be held in the pharmacy.
Ive been to boots before and had to wait 3 days for medication to be ordered in, so a next day delivery is fanatastic. Both James and Tai of Faringdon Pharmacy are working really hard to make the pharmacy work for faringdon and if you have a repeat prescription of something that is not usually kept on the shelves they will make sure that they do keep it for you in the future, so that you dont have to wait until the next day! I really think we should support what we have got instead of moan about it.
name supplied
Oh dear, I'm afraid I'm about to waffle on/rant a bit, but it's more or less what I submitted to the Vale, so I might as well share it with you.
If you're not interested in wading through it, that's fine. If you read on and agree/disagree that's fine too. Either way, please submit your own representation to the Vale here: http://ldfweb.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ldf/php/ShowRepresentations.php?doc=16&state=
OK, here goes:
Shopping, housing, business and environmental development in Faringdon cannot be considered independently.
1. Try marking a 300m radius from the centre point of each site, and Costcutters, on the map marked with options for retail development
(http://ldfweb.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ldf/php/ViewDocument.php?doc_pk= Presumably everyone living outside these circles will take a car, a bus or walk into town? I think not! Now repeat the exercise with the centre point in Market Place. The map clearly shows that the Park Road site is within 5-10 minutes walk for the vast majority of Faringdon residents. It also falls within easy walking distance of many businesses. Employers/employees could shop there on the way to/from work and during lunch breaks. There will be jobs for local people. If Wicklesham Quarry (with footbridge/underpass), could also be developed to include provision for the current occupants of the Park Road site (thereby no reduction in employment), those people could also easily access the store and town.
The community bus service could be routed to town via the store as it presently serves the Health Centre further along Park Road. The 66 Oxford/Swindon bus stops close by.
Free car parking will be available for those living/working outside the centre of Faringdon and for those unable or unwilling to walk for more than 5 minutes. Parking facilities within 5 minutes walk from Market Place are limited. A store on the Park Road site will reduce car journeys for many who currently drive to Swindon, Witney, Abingdon etc for supermarket shopping and may even encourage others to call in to Faringdon.
The current Sainsbury's supermarket site at Stratton is proposed for housing development. Those from Faringdon (and local area) who currently shop there will be looking elsewhere for an alternative.
The car park could probably be used for those entering the town in the evenings and weekends for entertainment, leisure and tourism (when there is something to do/see). No that's silly. There's plenty of room in the existing car parks after 7pm.
Budgens store development is limited by land which may/may not be available for purchase within the near future. If such land were to be used for FREE parking or residential or retail development (in addition to the Park Road site) that might increase footfall in the town centre.
The proposal by Tesco will be a more environmentally friendly store than Budgens (at the moment). Ok Tesco is not everyone's favourite supermarket for a variety of reasons, but they own the site now!
2. The proposed site north west of Gloucester Street is itself on the 'edge' of town (albeit within 300 or so metres from Market Place) and is in the heart of the conservation area. Some people would access the supermarket by car because of free parking spaces. The proposed access from Lechlade Road would pass the school entrances. There are few homes within easy walking distance of the site although those working at or ferrying children to/from the school by car could avoid the hassle of entering further into town to shop, the possible increase of traffic from other users will add to congestion as they pass through the one-way system.
Whilst Tesco have already purchased and put forward plans for their site, nothing has been made available for this alternative 'preferred' option.
The site to the northwest of Gloucester Street is in the conservation area and its development will not benefit the town, although it may profit the current land owner, as did previous 'gifts' to the town
3. It is not a requirement of residency in Faringdon that individuals must only support businesses confined to a small radius of Market Place, but rather that they have freedom to shop where they choose. If people have to travel elsewhere for a ream of paper, children's schoolwear, cds, computers, entertainment or whatever, it is not unreasonable to assume that other purchases will be made at the same time. It is my understanding that business decisions are made on, among other things, costs and benefits (ie profit) to themselves. If they provide something that Faringdonians want or need, they will profit. If not they will fail. It is not only due to the lack of parking spaces!
Has research been carried out about who actually shops in Faringdon - where and when? During the day I see mostly retired people, the unemployed, or part-timers and parents of young children. And at lunchtime/early evening those who work in shops and offices 'nipping out' for one or two items. It could be that they are happy with current provision, and I know that Budgens free delivery service (in response to phone calls as opposed to internet shopping) is much appreciated. I guess other people do all their non-food shopping in Faringdon at weekends. Or elsewhere.
I appreciate the support of the Retail Group and Chamber of Commerce and local businesses and would regret the demise of the latter, but whilst some existing businesses (including those outside the town centre) support activities and events in the town, others (who benefit a great deal from events in the Market Place) do not. Some companies outside Faringdon (eg Asda's contribution to Hallowe'en at the Folly, as well as those who regularly supported the Arts Festival) contribute to the well-being of the town, by helping to enable such events.
4. It is the duty of town, district and county councils to act for the benefit of the people, not just businesses. Show us you have our interests at heart! Keep the town clean. Give us cycle paths, free parking, walkways and short-cuts that aren't restricted by brambles, weeds, litter, poor lighting, potholes and yes, the inevitable dog mess. Let more of the 106 money generated by developments in Faringdon be spent in Faringdon. Make the town centre a delightful place, encourage tourism (not helped by people having to pay for Faringdon guide) support and advertise it across the Vale and Oxfordshire. Or better still, do some joined-up-thinking and propose a plan for the town that we can see and understand.
Thankyou,
Sheila
To Hilary and Pat
Brilliant!
Margaret
I am told that the Faringdon Baptist Church have discovered two war memorial plaques whilst having refurbishments carried out and they would like to invite any living relatives to a re-delegation.
1914 - 1918
Ernest C. Wiggins age 19
Walter V. Rogers 28
Gilbert G. Willis 25
Cecil G. Willis 22
Frederick A. Mobey 19
Albert E. Counsell 39
1939 - 1945
Kenneth J. Webb 21
Raymond Chapman 33
Gilbert H. Whiting 21
Peter W. Berry 24
for more information contact mandmj.jenkins@btinternet.com
The T.I.C. at the Corn exchange will be selling tickets for the Baraka fund raising gig from next week. £5 or £6 on the door. £3 concs.
Sam Prince
The Tesco figures on home and office shoppers are interesting, but I think we're in danger of confusing two different shopping experiences.
Tesco was looking for info on people's main food shopping habits - your weekly shop. Naturally this is usually done from home, so Tesco's figure of 84% sounds about right. Those people will tend to shop at a larger retailer, such as Budgens currently, if in Faringdon, or a store further away.
Those who nip out from the office to shop are more likely to use their local smaller shops and services - to grab some lunch, to take something in for repair, use the bank, pick up the odd household item, etc. So those who work in Faringdon will use the shops in Market Sq, London St, etc.
A straw poll of the businesses here at Wicklesham revealed they greatly value and use these smaller shops and services - one small company spends an average of £500 per week in Faringdon. Having these shops available is a big deciding factor for a company planning to move here.
It's little surprise, then, that the footfall through Faringdon's smaller shops has dwindled as businesses have left the town. If everyone has to commute to work to Swindon, Oxford or Milton, of course the town's shops suffer.
So while it's essential Faringdon makes the right choice over Tesco/Budgens/whatever, it doesn't necessarily follow that more people doing their main food shop in Faringdon will bring the town's smaller shops the shot in the arm they need.
That will only come about if Faringdon's business community is allowed to flourish. Currently the Vale's plans put that under threat.
Tom Allen-Stevens
Visit the Health Centre or Dentist, get a prescription, and as you live in Faringdon a vibrant market town; you have a choice of 2 pharmacies.
Go to Boots as its nearest, havent got what you need in. Go to the other, same story. Told I can go somewhere else, order it in so SHOULD be in next day!
Who are the powers behind the stock lists that these 2 pharmacies have. Are they the same?
Why cant they work together so that they dont mirror there stock holdings so that on occasions like this YOU can get the medicine you need. Really not impressed with the current services offered.
A. Bevin
Tesco already get a rental income from the land on Park Road. They may keep it as is and try again for a supermarket in a few years.
The Vale would probably sell their car park at a market price to a retail developer. Since the expansion of Budgens and developing the car park is already proposed in the Vale plan, I guess we can safely assume that the Vale have no problem with this.....
Sarah Allen-Stevens
I applaud Sjoerd for coming up with a plan that aims to protect Faringdon Town centre. OK - it has some flaws, but does anyone have any other ideas? We need to increase the footfall in the centre to protect it and encourage new shops. South Marston have employed their own Town Planner to develop plans which will help to protect their community from the Swindon expansion. Swindon Borough Council are dovetailing South Marston's plans with their own plans. Could Faringdon be looking to do the same?
Sarah Allen-Stevens
it appears that the Oxford Transmitter is being worked on this week (http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=SP567105) ; its currently broadcasting at low power. Hopefully the work will be finished soon although theres not much detail available.
Nick.
Some unanswered questions...
- Tesco already owns significant amounts of land on Park Road. If it cannot proceed with the construction of a store to what use will this land be put?
- Portway… It sounds very presumptuous to assume Portway can simply be trolleyed! Why should the residents be nonchalantly pushed out of their homes to make way for an extended Budgens?
Doesn't this display the same arrogant attitude of which people accuse Tesco?
- The idea of expanding Budgens into the adjacent car park sounds interesting but it is owned by Vale of White Horse District Council. Is it for sale and at what price?...and who will pay for it?
David Reynolds
I too have lost Channel 4, so i retuned my digibox. Now, I still don't have Channel 4, nor do I have ITV and a number of other channels.
I Blame Tesco!
Guy Robinson
I cant see the point of that Portway plan. Does the author think that the planners are going to drop their own plans and say whoopee heres a clever idea, lets go with it? What about the owners of the various bits of land, and the poele who live in Portway. What planet is this person on?
Ally
The UNICEF fund raising gig for HAITI is on Friday 12 March at the Faringdon Community College.Baraka the world music band will be performing. Support will be from some of the students. other students from the college will be involved in the production of lighting and sound. M.A.D.D. thanks the college for all it's assistance in making this fantastic event happen.Tickets are £5 or £6 on the door, students are £3. Available through www.maddfaringdon.co.uk or 01367-243806. There will be a bar.
Sam Prince
Does name supplied Faringdon have two ars in their Faringdon because its not the same faringdon that I witness on a day to day bassis. Bustling it aint, empty shops, shops that close early on more than one day a week, people eating and dining out, pay close attention to what is happening on that front. Methinks this person is living in cloud ----- land.The truth is it is a quite backwater town with some good points.If it's to be kept the same then stop all the housing development around Faringdon.
Sam Prince
I wish to object to the proposed new Tesco supermarket for Faringdon. I think it would be detrimental to the town centre and spoil the character of the country market atmosphere it has had up to this time.
nmae supplied
Following Tesco's decision to ban customers wearing pyjamas, local pensioners investigate Budgen's customer dress code policy to help them decide whether or not to support Tesco bid;.
Simon Tiensa, Budgen's proprietor says Yes! to pyjamas.
read more...
HT
Photo © Al Cane
In the independent market research survey we commissioned, 84% of people living in Faringdon and the rural area surrounding it said that when they made their last main food shopping trip they started from home. Fewer than 7% started from work.
The survey was carried out by NEMS Market Research, a member of MRS, the Market Research Society, and is a statistically representative sample for research purposes.
Melanie Chiswell, Corporate Affairs Manager
Can anyone help? Boogie Me are potentially losing their practice space at the Crown on Thursday nights following the arrival of the new management who are considering their approach for the premises. !
For those of you who don't know us, we are a large rhythm and blues orchestra, Faringdon born and bred and have been going for about 4 years. There are usually around 12 of us on a practice night and we urgently need a large space where we won't disturb anyone, with heating, lighting and power.Happy to pay a fee for the hire of the space. !
We usually practice from 8.30pm till 10.30pm. !
Can anyone help? Please call 07734 101226!
Many thanks
Jon
Let us preserve what little there is of our conservation area - nobody is seriously going to consider pushing through a new road into the heart of the conservation area (The Farigdon House option) to service a 'parade of shops'!
name supplied
name supplied
The bustling life in the market twon of Faringdon makes it a very special place, and the local, non cloned shops are what draw people into the centre of the town, where people meet, shopping in the local shops and in the market, eating and drinking in the local inns and resturants, and there is a community spirit. Country life goes on in a way that it has for centuries resulting in people living in harmony, and careing for one another without the influence of government.
If Tesco opens its doors on the outskirts of the town, the centre will die. Most local businesses will have to close as they are unable to compete with the cut prises on mostly imported goods. Faringdon will become a ghost town along with so many other towns. The only businesses that will survive might be the banks and the estate agents. We will have another souless town. .
We are losing our country ways and life to large businesses that have no interst in what happens around them unlike the local shops where the customers are known personnally and served well. .
If the local shops close, how many people will be put out of work and of these, who will want to find a job in Tesco? Few, I suspect. .
Say NO to Tesco and let our town and local businesses live. We come because we love this town, its atmosphere. Our families reside, work and enjoy all that Faringdon gives. .
name supplied
We've all been asked to send our comments before 12th Feb to Planning Policy
planning.policy@whitehorsedc.gov.uk Hopefully, all the valuable views expressed here on TP will also have been submitted to the VoWHDC.
For what it's worth - here's what I submitted last week:
INTRODUCTION.
We've been offered the choice of three options as part of the Future of shopping in Faringdon. I believe that all three options could have an important part to play in vastly improving the overall shopping experience in Faringdon, but I also believe that it's vitally important that we prioritize - with three clear phases. We cannot cherry-pick. Choosing just phase three (for example) would destroy the town centre. Overall, let's call thisTHE PORTWAY plan.
Phase one: the total redevelopment of the Portway in Faringdon: into mixed flats (for example) and extensive new attractive car park. This Portway area, together with the existing Budgens, the existing S'hampton St car park, and Catholic church car park would provide a "blank canvas" of contiguous land that would be at the centre of the new "Faringdon Marketplace Shopping experience".
Phase two: (could happen in parallel with phase one, but cannot happen WITHOUT phase one) the Faringdon House site could be developed into mixed small retail, residential + community.
Phase three: (important that this ONLY happens when phases one/two have had time to bed in - eg after five years minimum) we could then (and only then) develop the competitive food retailing offerings in Faringdon by allowing development on Park Rd - for example.
1. WOULD EXPANDED BUDGENS MEET FARINGDON SHOPPING NEEDS TO 2026 ?
Short answer: No, not on its own - but it IS a CRUCIAL part of phase one of any overall improvement strategy. .
Longer answer: An expanded (AND IMPROVED) Budgens TOGETHER WITH EXTENSIVE ATTRACTIVE FREE PARKING ADJACENT TO STORE will certainly be an immense improvement to the inferior food shopping experience that we have now (choice, price, parking, etc); it would claw back some of the substantial 75% leakage; and it would be ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS of a town centre revitalisation strategy (the other being the development of the Faringdon House site as additional small & interesting retail / community/residential)
Summary to question 1 : We MUST have a good food retailer together with extensive and pleasant free parking - and this must be part of the Market Place Shopping Experience (not 300 or 600 yds away).
2. SOUTHAMPTION ST - EIGHT EXTRA PARKING SPACES?
Salt and wounds springs to mind. However - the PORTWAY PLAN would give a new footprint of contiguous land that would allow a redesigned food retail outlet together with 100+ adjacent and free parking spaces.
3. BUILDING OUTSIDE THE TOWN CENTRE?
Definitely NOT - before phase one and phase two have had a good chance (eg five years minimum) to bed in. FIRST - we must allow phases 1/2 to create a vibrant town centre, attracting visitors and shoppers for all the right reasons. Building outside the town centre while the historic town centre is already hurting would be a criminal mistake.
The strategy of replacing a failing town centre with a new "clone centre" somewhere else is utterly unsustainable. Do you then repeat this process in 20 years time when the clone centre also fails?
Our slogan should be: "Fix it, Don't Abandon it"
The historic town centre has an 800 year old history. Fix it - don't abandon it - so that it can take us into the next 800 years as a thriving interesting vibrant place to visit & meet & shop & live & work.
As phase three however (after a five-year amnesty period to allow phases one and two to become effective - and assuming that phases 1/2 have been effective in revitalising the historic town centre) , a slightly-out-of-town food retailer could be a valuable competitive alternative to keep the in-town retailer(s) on their toes, and to give shoppers increased choice.
4. FARINGDON HOUSE LAND FOR SUPERMARKET?
Definitely not. Main reasons: you're abandoning the existing town centre rather than trying to fix it; a supermarket ripping up a conservation area is completely wrong - particularly when you have the real opportunity to develop the existing historic town centre properly through the PORTWAY PLAN.
. The Faringdon House land would however lend itself well to improving the range of smaller non-clone retail outlets. This could be combined with sympathetic residential & community facilities - that are more in keeping with the sympathetic development of conservation area for the benefit of the community.
Done well, a development of smaller retail outlets on Faringdon House land could highlight another of our natural assets.
5. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
In 2018 - in just eight years time - it will be 800 years ago that Faringdon received its charter as a market town.
Let's make sure that we'll then be celebrating - not commiserating.
The PORTWAY PLAN would be an important step in the right direction.
Sjoerd Vogt
Hi. I was just wondering who's responsibility the Folly Park car park falls under as the pot holes are getting worse by the day which is a real shame as I enjoy taking my dog for a walk around the park but may have to find somewhere else to go as the risk of bottoming out my car is not worth it.
Sam
Congratulations to all our skaters passing tests on saturday Georgina Howe Silver Figures and Freeskating Richard Whitlock Inter bronze Figures Sophie Lewis Bronze Figures Selina james Elementary and Prelimary Figures Melody-Sophie- Louise -and Tess All passed basic skill6. Fantastic. We would like to Thank the leisure Centre who have supported us over these passed months in encouragement when times have been tough but also ensuring the floor is emaculate for our test day.Thankyou.
Dee England
You are right. My comments do make depressing reading, but they are not a vision of the future, they are a vison of the present based on my own observations, and published facts which can be checked by anyone.
I have nothing against cheap housing, quite the reverse, in fact; (If you only knew!) but I think that we could address the existing demographic imbalance which impinges on aspects of this area. Although we are rightly obliged at present to accept a proportion of affordable accommodation within our housing allocation, there is a case for trying to even things up.
Retailers will come if they think there is sufficient demand, they don't need the choice to be made for them. The proposed Tesco is as I understand it is predominantly a food store, which makes sense. People need food on a day to day basis. Clothing, on the other hand is something which is not bought by individuals daily, and nowadays mostly they are used to, and prefer, a larger choice than can be provided by a small local retailer. There is a huge choice already within a convenient distance, and it is unlikely that those people who cannot or do not wish to travel out of town (even those whose children have to go barefoot) would provide sufficient trade for a local store at present. or in the near future. If the position changes you may rest assured that a canny retailer will spot the opportunity.
In lots of ways Faringdon is a lovely place to live, with plenty of activities, a good sense of community and public spirited individuals providing a variety of entertainment and interest.
However, many 'local plans', 'strategies' 'wish lists' whatever you like to call them, have come and gone over the years, but successive councils and councillors have chosen to cherry pick those projects which are the most interesting or high profile, and from which they can derive the most public credit. These are often doomed because they are insufficiently researched, over ambitious, under-funded (or a combination), and consequently fizzle out having wasted money and energy. We suffer from being at the arse-end of both the Vale district and the county, but if our councillors would make a concerted and - most importantly, sustained - effort to tackle the long established but boring problems I mentioned before, the town might develop into a more inviting place.
Who knows, we might even attract posh 'boutiques' for all those tourists and prejudiced, filthy-rich people like me....
"name supplied"
If there is going to be so much expansion in the near future ther will be plenty of customers for Tesco and a town centre supermarket, so why is there all the fuss?
Alan
Budgens cannot be compared with Waitrose, Sainsbury's etc as it is not a supermarket in its own right but a franchise, each individual store being owned independently. I would love it if a Waitrose or M&S foodstore were to come here but there is no chance. What makes me apprehensive is that the Budgens owner has no incentive to improve his store if Tesco's gets planning permission, and he has no reason to if they dont!
another shopper
What a depressing and pessimistic view of the future of Faringdon. Let's look at the reality (as suggested).
Over the next (very) few years Faringdon will see an increase in housing of some 1160 houses. This means an increase in the population of about 40-44%. In numbers this means that we will have a population within the Town of about 10,500-11,000. Add to this a realistic catchment population of some 7,000 and the commercial reality becomes clear. In order to support this very large growth all the areas of infrastructure will need review and planned growth and change. Schools, health provision, road access & egress to and out of the Town, social provision AND retail provision.
It is true that the retail offer in Faringdon has diminished over the last 20-30 years, probably due to the lack of demand. But the situation is changing very rapidly. The population will very soon be available to support a re-growth of the Town centre - we need to plan for this. The alternative is to see our Town centre decline to the extent that there will be virtually no retail offer apart from food. This would mean a complete breakdown in the cohesion of our community and the final development of a soulless commuter housing complex instead.
Why does "name supplied" think that the biggest retailer in the UK wants to put a store here? Could it be that they are in "realistic" mode and have looked at the financial opportunities that our growth will present.
Lastly, "name supplied" seems to imply that the people living in the 300 affordable homes included in our planned growth don't have children with feet or need clothes and all the other necessities that an improved range of retail offer could provide. The other 800 homes will fit with his prejudices.
Alan Hickmore FTC Chair of Planning
I have moved from an area that had a small town roughly the same size as Faringdon. They too had a small tescos built that is approx the same size as is proposed here and the store was approx the same distance from the town centre as here.
Since the building of this store the town centre has not declined in any way. There is limited shopping area for new stores in this town but they now have a Peacocks clothes store which offers affordable clothing for all ages(Faringdon lacks this at present). They already had a Boots chemist, Somerfields supermarket (slightly larger than our Budgens but only by an aisle or so) and locally owned DIY store (seem familiar???)
Therefore I support a small Tescos as I think it may actually improve our town slightly. Walk around, and already you will see shops closing down. Without a Tescos I fear that the town centre will become a ghost town with locals being forced to travel to other local towns to undertake their routine shopping.
name supplied
An independent survey of shoppers published in this months Which? looked at satisfaction with supermarkets. Tescos were joint 7th with Asda! Those better, in order, were Waitrose, M&S, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsburys and Morrisons. Of those included in the survey only the Co-op and Netto came out worse. Now, about the expansion and improvement of Budgens......
Nigel
In so many ways we, in Faringdon, are the low man (or Woman) on the Council Totem Pole but it isn't all doom and gloom.
There is one area where we beat everyone.
We have the highest Council Tax Bands in the Vale.
name supplied
Where exactly does the Town Council Planning Committee imagine that the customers for its proposed retail extravaganza are going to come from? Can anyone in their right mind think that "shops such as ladies clothing, childrens (branded and fitting) shoes, mens clothing and general boutiques" will prosper here, when twelve miles up the road we have Marks and Spencer, Matalan, House of Fraser, Debenham's etc. etc. and the Swindon Outlet Centre? Why do they think that all such shops in Faringdon have closed down ? Retailers have to make a living. Food, pharmacy is what is actually needed here on a day-to day basis.
Boutiques flourish in prosperous, smart, clean, towns on tourist trails. Faringdon is not prosperous. We have the highest percentage of low income residents per head of population in the Vale; we have the worst access to hospitals and some healthcare; we have the poorest provision of public transport.
Without a substantial influx of affluent residents very little will change yet still there have been suggestions that we need even more 'affordable' housing. We cannot have it both ways.
Walk into the town centre and you will often see the patched up pavements covered with fag ends, chewing gum deposits, dog mess, the remains of last nights take away food, and the occasional slick of vomit, not to mention catching the whiff of drains.
Our one large retailer is somewhat grubby and downmarket.
We are not on a tourist trail.
Forget the delusions of grandeur and tackle what can be reasonably attained by a small town council. Smarten up the town centre and keep it clean. I know the street cleaning is the Vale's responsibility, but is there any reason why the town council cannot supplement it? Make sure that the hanging baskets and flower tubs are well stocked and watered. That sort of thing can lift the ambience of the town centre no end. Support our one really unique tourist attraction; there are loads of towns with a lovely church, fine old buildings a bit of history, and a (probably quite dreary) little museum. Only we have the Folly Tower. Forget encouraqing 'local' artists around the Folly - they may be very commendable but only locals want to see them. Alert Banksy to it's potential and we could be inundated with tourists.
For goodness'sake get real!
name supplied
Answer for Pythag To convert square metres to square feet (approximately) multiply by 10. 15,000sq ft is about the size of the coop in Highworth.
Alan Hickmore
The minimum size for a football pitch is 45,000 sq.ft. so without even waiting for Sjoerd's calculator it is not too difficult to work out that a 15,000 sq.ft store would occupy one third of it.
Does that help, Pythag?
Archy Mead
When I attended the Tesco event in the Corn Exchange, one of the Tesco people told me the planned Faringdon Tesco would have between 6 and 8 tills at the checkout which I think helps to visualise the size of the proposed store.
Jill Dean
I drove from the Wantage road into Faringdon yesterday and came into town via London street, I could not believe how much rubbish there was starting at the roundabout and continuing all the way until the top of the hill into Faringdon. I guess it must have all come down with the snow. If not there's some very untidy people about!!!.
name supplied
Its okay to say 15,000 sq ft or so many metric miles, but what in laymans terms does it mean? What size of shop can we compare it to? The Co-op at Highworth, Sainsbury at Wantage. I dont know. Can someone give us a clue please.
Pythag
Interested parties should look at the link Gene Webb posted to the results of the survey taken at Tesco's recent exhibition.
This clearly shows that 75% of the people who voted are in favour of Tescos coming to Faringdon. If you talk to local people randomly about the subject, you'll probably also find confirmation that those who want Tescos here outnumber those who don't by approximately 4:1. Hopefully, the officials who are responsible for giving the 'green light' will take the statistics into account and let the builders start digging the foundations soon.
Referring back to Martin Harries's comment "where do they think the staff from Budgens will end up?". If it comes to the crunch, I really do hope Tescos managers will take a walk round Budgens. They'll easily spot the staff members like Mrs Harries who care about their customers and offer them a job with a good wage increase. They wont find it difficult to spot the ones who don't care and therefore wouldn't fit in at Tescos.
name supplied
The FTC planning committee met on Wednesday to consider the options put forwrd by the Vale. Basically the options are in no way adequate. There aren't three options there are a whole series.
Faringdon Town centre (the retail offer) has been in decline for 20 or 30 years. The shops that we have left are doing a good job but the range of goods on offer fall short of providing a vibrant town centre shopping experience. The retail development of Faringdon needs to address the real shortage of shops such as ladies clothing, childrens (branded and fitting) shoes, mens clothing and general boutiques. There is no plan from the Vale to help with this. Instead we are being asked to comment on food provision.
Budgens is not adequate to provide a full food offer either. The plans for it's refit could well help with this but even then there is a need for competition in order to ensure that we all have choice of both range and price. Then the joice would be ours not the retailers providing the essentials that we all need.
The FTC planning committee will be making a series of suggestions to the Vale. They are:
Budgens should be encouraged to go ahead with their proposed refit. This will provide a significant alternative to any second supermarket development.
The site in Faringdon House grounds would be better suited to a mixed development of a parade of non-food shops with accommodation over and a public building (possibly a museum). This would help to improve the non-food offer in the Town centre.
The site in Park Road should be permitted as a supermaket development BUT it should be subject to :
A clear plan for the improvement of the retail offer in the Town centre.
The provision of greatly improved pathways and cycleways from the site to the Town centre. Inorder to provide a level playing field for the existing supermarket, the removal of parking charges for the first two hours at Southampton Street car park.
Restrictions on the timing on delivery lorry movements.
An early acceptance of a significant site near the Town for employment provision to which the current users could move.
There are other possibilities for the provision of land near the Town centre that could be made available and these should be explored.
We think that this proposal would work for the whole of the Town. Evidence suggests that if a Town centre is able to offer an attractive and full shopping environment then a food development on the edge of Town benefits it. If the offer is inadequate it will suffer. We want the Town centre to have a full and adequate offer so that the 70+% of people who do not shop in our Town remember that it is a good place to buy their needs.
The full response to the Vale from FTC planning will be available on the Town Council website at the end of next week.
One small point. Our three district councillors have been remarkably quiet on the subject. When asked why? one of them said "there will be a new conservative government soon and we will change the whole planning system".
Does this help Faringdon now??
Alan Hickmore
I sure the Wicklesham landowners would feel diffrent if tescos was buying some of the space in their proposed quarry site.
happy shopper
15,000sqft = 1393.54sqm
Sjoerd
well not really. this afternoon i was talking to a retailer from the town and he commented on how wonderful the Guiness project were when they did their busking bit in the town.
He said that it was a joy and put a smile on peoples faces, he inquired could it be done on a weekly basis.
There's food for thought, might brighten the Town centre up for Saturday shoppers. perhaps someone might like to comment on the official standing on this.
Sam Prince
"Might" expand...and how much might be retail space?
Stow has a larger and more attractive town centre than Faringdon; it is also on a Cotswold tourist route. Makes all the difference. Some might say fortunately for us we are near Wantage, Witney & Swindon.
name supplied
Unfortunately for us, geographically Stow - like Chipping Norton - has the great advantage of being a market town where the nearest major shopping centre is some distance away (around 20 miles). It seems that if people can find a large supermarket within around 10 miles of their home, they will drive to it. Therefore, people living in or around Stow, will tend to use the local shops of Stow more, and travel to Banbury, Cirencester & Swindon a lot less. Faringdon, on the other hand, is within a reasonable distance from supermarkets, shops (and free parking) based at Wantage, Witney and Swindon.
Sarah Allen-Stevens
I only recently came across the proposal for a new performance venue for Faringdon online. I have to say that given the town is already struggling to find funding for various venues that already exist such as the Corn Exchange and the new Youth Centre, I think it would be better for the plans to be shelved as I for one would not want to be lumbered with paying for yet another white elephant.
name suppled
Not A Lot Of People Know This.
It is proposed that Budgens might expand to 1400 sq. metres and we are supposed to compare this with the proposed Tesco Store of 15,000sq.ft.
Hands up those who know which is the greatest area.
I'll give you a clue...It isn't Tesco's.
name suppled
At Stow on the Wold you will find a Tesco store a good few minutes from the town centre and stow hasnt suffered. Perhaps we could learn from there experience.
Joe Sainsbury
If Tesco sounds the death knell for Budgens, perhaps the Budgens site might be considered for an arts/ performance venue, rather than the one on the outskirts of town proposed by the Faringdon Area Project.
Given the economic climate, and that fact that we already have a conference centre ie Sudbury House, and a leisure centre with sports facilities, it seems exceedingly unlikely that public funding will be forthcoming for such an ambitious project as the one currently proposed.
A more modest, affordable and adequately soundproofed performance space incorporating a small museum and exhibition area on that site with the adjacent car park could be an asset, and provided that it was well designed (!) would certainly enhance our ailing town centre.
HT
Who are these bloody idiots who were running down the Radcot Road towards the river and who had between them what seemed to be 1 torch! None of them was wearing any form of High Visibility clothing and myself and others had to swerve away from them AND into the path of other vehicles to avoid hitting them. Run by all means, but make yourself visible. Whose fault would of it have been if there was a collision?
The motorist.
I am working through various Tesco posts, and anyone here would be VERY foolish to think they are not looking I feel.
But I am surprised to see no one has pointed out that they surveyed 400 ish people. How many people cover that area ?
Also how many people work in swindon/oxford/abingdon and shop there on the way home?
name supplied
Most householders can make very substantial savings on groceries by shopping at Tesco wtc rather than Budgens.Ypu can't moan at families for that decision. Prices at the local Cost cutter store in Folly View Road are often better. Budgens will have to address pricing and wider choices in products to stop Tesco arriving.
Free parking is always a winner too!
Jacqui Massey
I can't believe that anyone is seriously suggesting building a supermarket near the Gloucester Street car park. Have they seen how congested it gets round there at the start/end of the school day?
The entrance used by the majority of kids at the Junior School is via the side road into the car park.
Name Supplied
Is there any way that Faringdon can be allowed for the car park in Southampton Street to be free for the first two hours ?. No wonder people park on double yellow lines everywhere, this ridiculous business of having to pay just to go to the cashpoint or buy a newspaper. I know it's only 40p, and it can be refunded if you spend enough in certain shops but like many people I find it just so petty and annoying. I'm not a person who will park illegally so I either end up paying for a two minute visit or I shop elsewhere.
It's rare that the free spaces in the Market Square are available, many of the cars and vans often seem to be there all day. I don't agree that the parking could ever be free all day (like Witney), simply because there aren't enough spaces and they'd be taken up with workers in the town. Surely this would encourage more people to pop into the town centre and possibly enable both food stores (when Tesco arrives !) to exist. With any luck it would also stop some of this ridiculous illegal parking especially in London Street.
It won't stop all, but the revenue from issuing tickets would more than make up for the lost car park 40p's !. The town would be a far more attractive place to live and visit if parking was sorted. Having to reverse down London Street like I did today because I needed to pull out around three vans and three cars, all illegally parked,......and meeting a driver at the top who was in no mood to pass up his right of way......well, not the first time and at this rate it won't be the last.
Name Supplied
Motivating older people to take part in physical activity
A Free course. On the 27th April 9.30 till 4.30pm At the Committee Room Exeter Hall Oxford Road Kidlington OX5 1AB Tea and coffee will be provided, but you will need to bring your own lunch
The course is designed for those who work in a variety of settings with older people. Including: Health and Social care workers, physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants, Chair based exercise co-ordinators or leaders, Older person instructors and YMCA exercise instructors, health care assistants, residential and nursing home staff, movement and dance teachers, community sports leaders and Sports development officers, leisure development officers, Postural stability instructors,
To register call Sue Talmage on 01865 336886 or Kayte Locke on 01865 725760 or email sue.talmage@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk or Kayte.locke@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk
In partnership with the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health at Loughborough University and Age Concern England - Ageing Well.
It seems to me that there are many things that need to be done to encourage shoppers into Faringdon shops.
A better range of attractive specialist shops- not just day to day provisions- to make Faringdon a destination for recreational shoppers
Free/ easy parking
High quality eating places
Clean streets
Minimal traffic congestion
Day time use of meeting rooms and venues
We need to try and attract people from the villages as well as more local people to use the town shops.
It is said that already 80% of shoppers do their main food shopping out of town. I do not believe that a better Budgens will significantly change that but it does mean that with the right product range and price there is a huge potential market to entice into Budgens.
A supermarket on Park Road may be too far out of town for many to visit the town centre. For many it will depend how good the shops are and how easy it is to get to the town centre and/or park.
A supermarket behind the Junior School or a huge store on the Budgens site seems to me a non starter- do we really want more traffic coming into our narrow streets- there is enough congestion already
VWHDC preferred option is Gloucester St ( no idea why) - it is closer to the existing shops than Park Road, but there is too little information to really see how it would work. The only certaintly seems to be increased traffic in Gloucester St ( and therefore Gravel Walk, Corn Market, Marlborough St)
There is still time for the retailers in the town to get together, to work cooperatively so that between them they are providing the goods and services that people need. There is time for Budgens to differentiate itself from a national style supermarket and develop customer loyalty. There could be a way that VWHDC could provide some free parking for shoppers( obviously it would need to be paid for, the question is how and by whom)
There is still time to ensure that VWHDC include employment land in Faringdon in their Core Strategy - the more houses that are built here, the more work is needed here and then (given the shops are attractive enough) more people will shop here.
Not a retailer!
Forgot to say- FTC have plans in place to refurbish the Corn Exchange in August (this year). It includes new loos, sound proofing, decoration, stage - and possibly more!
Gene Webb
Between Friday 22nd January and Monday 25th January a theft of a Suzuki GSXR 600 occurred in Ferndale Street, Faringdon. It was chained to a lamppost and has been cut. The motorbike had a disc lock, steering lock and was under a cover. Please be extra vigilant and report any suspicious people or vehicles in the area to the Police.
If you have any information relating to this message please call the Police on 08458 505 505 and quote URN 206 of the 25th January 2010.
Thanks to the TC for putting on yesterday evening's meeting.
However - I was very disappointed at how many people (including a couple of town councillors) seem to be willing to simply abandon the historic town centre as if it has already failed us, and act as if there's somehow nothing we can do about this.
Where's the vision in this?
And what a strange strategy. You have a town centre that's hurting? Build a new one somewhere else!
And - are we again going to apply the same strategy in 20 years time perhaps? Failing Park Road site? Build a new one somewhere else!
We're SO lucky to have such a fantastic market place and with such a rich history. Surely we should do everything we can to make sure it takes us into the next 800 years: as a thriving bustling uniquely interesting market town centre - rather than trying to create a clone town on the outskirts.
Fix it, don't abandon it.
Sjoerd
Very interesting meeting last night with many viewpoints on foodstores and retail of Faringdon being put forward. Did anyone else notice the distinct lack of District Council planning officers when it actually came to listening to the views of Faringdon?
I saw them dressed incognito during the exhibition but after 7pm, I thought I saw the flight of the planning officers leaving town.
Sarah Allen Stevens
Just a note to thank the large number of people who came to the meeting last night. There were a variety of views and all put with passion and a lot of thought.
It was interesting to note that the responsible district councillor was there - lets hope she now realises that Faringdon does have a real voice.
The FTC planning committee will meet tonight in order to form its view on the future of retailing in Faringdon and will attach a summary of the views expressed last night to our report to the district.
Thanks again
Alan Hickmore FTC Chair of Planning
Thankyou to everyone who has completed our questionnaire. If you haven't there's still time to do so.
You can either tear it out of last time's Whats On, or download it here.
It only tales a few minutes to complete- and it will help us get grants to carry out essential work on the tower and in the woodland.
You can email it to me, put it through letterbox of no 25 Marlborough St, or into Sweet paradise or the TIC
THANKYOU
Gene Webb
My former neighbour, Julie, recently moved elsewhere within Faringdon (from London Street)- i don't know where unfortunately- but she had a black female cat, Cilla, fairly thick fur, a little on the portly side, very round faced, about 4 years old, I think. (No collar). Does this sound like the cat you found? She may not have been used to the new roads. If so I can see if i can get Julie's forwarding address.
Name supplied
Really interesting meeting tonight and a lot of valid views expressed.
We have three options for the town's retail offering, which can be explained as follows:
1. Tesco on Park Road - outside the town centre. Tesco has bought the land and has apparently committed to the investment required. There'll be free parking.
2. Expansion of Budgens - bang in the town centre. Budgens has apparently committed to spend significant capital, although this is the first time it has committed to do so since it took over the site. There's talk of 8 extra parking places, but none free.
3. New site next to Gloucester St car park - close to town centre. No supermarket has committed. Should be plenty of parking but not sure if it'll be free.
If the only issue at stake was which one would have the most chance of revitalising the shops around the market place, 2 would be the clear winner.
3 is a lovely idea but fraught with problems, the biggest being there is no supermarket backer and we're not even sure the landowner wants a supermarket. Then there's congestion, apparently it's a toad breeding ground and has lovely trees - if I was a supermarket I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole
Then there's option 1 - if I was a betting man, that's the one I'd go for. You'd be dancing with the devil & I'm not sure it's the best solution for Faringdon. But it's the one most likely to happen. Shall we talk section 106, now?
That's my view.
Tom Allen-Stevens
Corn Exchange 13.15-15.30 & 16.30-19.15.
To book an appointment please visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.
Please encourage your friends to come along.
New donors are needed.
The cost of providing local services (Pump Rooms, Corn Exchange, town park, play areas, grants ++++) will increase by 1.2% for 2010/2011. This takes into account income from an additional 50 houses (this is the number registered as complete in Oct 2009)
It is anticipated that the District and County Council costs will increase much more significantly. These represent (I'm guessing) more than 95% of the Council Tax we pay.
There were 3 members of the public at this meeting!
Gene Webb
I have been assuming that the customers of Budgens will stay loyal to Budgens, so they can carry on trading and keep the staff employed. People who travel out of town to shop would now have another option. More jobs could be created.
Wherever we shop we will find staff with attitude, thats just a sign of the times I'm afraid.
Chris Higgs
I've been sent these for you all to see
A pdf file with the display boards (5mb - rather large) that were at the consultation
A Word file with the results- numbers supporting/opposed and the sort of comments they made
Gene Webb
These people who have an issue with the staff in Budgens need to have a reality check! If Tesco arrives, Budgens will not exist. Where do they think the staff from Budgens will end up, yes at Tesco's!
Do these unhappy people think Tesco have a bus load of staff they are going to bring in from their secret training base camp and make the Town's shopping experience a bed full of roses? My wife works for Budgens and takes great pride in her job and the customer experience she trys to provide all customers.
If you unhappy with a member of the staff, speak to the management so that they can take the necessary action. If you hide behind a message board and name supplied, you not really helping to improve their service to you.
Martin Harries
Wednesdays: 2-3pm, 6 weeks (24th February- 31st March), start location Faringdon Folly, Faringdon. Cost £20 per person. Poles provided.
For further information and to book (required) please contact: Anna Capel-Davies (GO Active Coordinator for the Vale) 01235 540377 or anna.capel-davies@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
New £3 million youth centre planned for Banbury Plans for a £3 million youth centre for Banbury are set to be approved by Oxfordshire County Councillors next week in the biggest project of its kind in the county. The New Futures Centre would replace the existing youth centre on the Woodgreen site in the town. The project has been made possible by a successful bid to the Government’s Co-location Fund, set up to bring public services together.
Focal point for the community
The brand new building would house a performance hall with stage, music practice rooms, an art room with a pottery kiln, a fitness suite, a workshop and a café-style “chill out” area. Outside there are plans for an all-weather court for basketball and football.
As well as providing facilities for the young people and their families in the area to use, the new centre would also be a meeting point for the local community and youth workers, health workers and specialist advisers. The centre will be managed by the Council’s Integrated Youth Support Service.
Young residents to manage the centre
Fifty young Banbury residents helped come up with suggestions for the building design and activities at the centre. Young people using the centre would manage and decide the activities on offer through a Youth Forum.
Construction plans include the latest low carbon design technologies including air source heat pumps, solar panels and low energy fittings to keep running costs down.
Councillor Louise Chapman, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “The New Futures Centre would provide a fantastic focal point for young people in Banbury. The planned facilities would help children and families access a range of vital services as well as giving young Banbury residents the opportunity to engage in the activities they are interested in.” Anthony Sayles, Area Manager for the Integrated Youth Support Service, said: "Designed with young people and for young people we hope that this facility will go on to provide the kind of space and support that young people want. It's a fantastic opportunity for the Banbury Community and most importantly children and young people. "
Press release by Oxford County Council
I hope the funding for our centre is not to be cut to help pay for it
Name Supplied
It would most likely be the brewery's decision to upgrade the decor in the bar.
I made enquiries of various people in the town about the history and provenance of the mural and I also put something on here in response to an enquiry from a customer. This was in the hope that someone might be able to tell me something of who the artists were and what initially was their thnking behind it. So far no one seems to know anything about it.
If anyone knows anything at all, could you please contact Faringdon Community and Tourist Information Centre, The Corn Exchange, Faringdon SN7 7JA, tel 01367 2421961 or tic@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk
Thank you
Fiona Merrick
Last evening, I found a black cat that had been knocked down by the junction of Butts Road. It was still warm, so I rang for vet. She arrived and confirmed the worst... The vet took the cat to the Elm Tree surgery to check whether it had a chip etc. I went in this morning, to check how things went but there was no chip.
So, in brief if there is anyone who lives in the area of Butts Road, or knows anyone who lives around Butts Road who own a black female cat that hasnt returned home, could they contact the Elm Tree surgery.
I would be happy to answer any questions that anyone may have. Many thanks
Name Supplied
M.A.D.D. for HAITI fund raising, through the efforts of the Guinness project and donation from Trophy pet foods our total so far is £152-02. thanks to the people who gave.
We are working towards organising the Baraka gig at the community College.
M.A.d.d. for HAITI I would like to take this opportunity to ask if there are any local bands musicians who would like to help us in our fund rising project for UNICEF. would they please get in touch with us either on 01367-243806 or through the web site www.maddfaringdon.co.uk
Thank you.
Sam Prince
Did anyone else see the dustbin lorry that took our recycling away ? It was not the usual sort- a recycling one, just a normal landfill type.
So I guess all that effort to sort our rubbish, do our bit, was for nothing then? at least it finally got taken, only been over 1 month.
We in Faringdon pay the highest council tax in the Vale.
Name Supplied
I hope Budgens buildings lease expires very soon as (in my opinion and alot of others)the quality: of food , staff and service is very poor and well below national standard.
Can't wait until Tesco come to Faringdon. Good Luck to Tesco and can't wait!!!!
Name Supplied
I cannot see how a new 15,000 Sq Ft store in Faringdon could attract the weekly shop away from the 150,000 Sq Ft Asda in Swindon.
Name Supplied
Faringdon can feel justifiably proud of its social conscience - also as it applies to far-flung places where there's suffering and injustice, and it's great to see M.A.D.D. raising money for Haiti.
You may also want to know that Harriet Williams held a piano recital in All Saints Church last Sunday for Haiti - which raised well over £1000 - and earlier this week the Catholic community in Faringdon sent £6000 for emergency relief work in Haiti through Caritas.
Sjoerd
You could also conclude that the people who walk to their local shop for their groceries have a greater social/ecological conscience than those who drive to an out-of-town shopping centre. The lower number of Budgens bags could reflect higher use of reusable shopping bags and/or an unwillingness to fly-tip just because the council have failed to do their duty and empty the bins.
I fall into the Budgens-shopper demographic and have a large stack of mixed plastics and cardboard in my shed, which I shall be putting in (not dumping at) the recycling point now that it has been emptied. Beware of drawing conclusions based on a snap-shot of evidence....it's easy to see what you want to see.
Andrea
the World music Band Baraka has agreed to help us fund raise with a performance in faringdon.
Date sometime in February/March.
Sam Prince
A very successful and useful meeting last night. About 40+ people came along and agreed that we should make our case to the District Council.
A number of working groups were set up including:
Employment land provision
Educational provision
Health Transport/roads
Town centre healthcheck
Housing
Environment and sustainability
These groups will be reporting back in February and we hope to be able to put a strong case for the future of our town later this year.
If anybody wants to join any of these groups please contact Diane at the town council office and I'm sure they would welcome your contribution.
Thanks to everybody that came along.
Alan Hickmore FTC Chair of Planning
I hear that the landlady of the Bell Hotel is going to have the Mural in the back Bar painted over. Is this true?
Name Supplied
If you look at the left hand photograph of the mess around the Gloucester Street recycling bins you'll see that Tescos/Sainsburys plastic bags outnumber the Budgens ones by roughly 2.5:1.
It's interesting to ponder on the conclusions one might draw from that.
Could it, for example, indicate that two and a half times more local people use Sainsburys and Tescos rather than Budgens?
What do you think?
Name Supplied
I agree with Sjoerd in that we need some free car-parking and a centre of town foodstore.... but I raise a couple of concerns:
1. Tesco are proposing a new style Format 15 foodstore, which, when you check this out, seems to be equivalent to a large Tesco Metro (about 25% larger than Budgens). I feel this is a large convenience store that should be located in the centre of town. I suspect that it may not be large enough to encourage people do their weekly shop in Faringdon.
2. Like Sjoerd, the District Council may be behind re-developing Budgens and the area behind it but the real problem is servicing a foodstore in the centre of town. Tescos tell us that they expect 2-3 lorries to service their foodstore each day. How can we get lorries large enough to hold the quantity of chilled and perishable goods that we want to buy, into the centre of town without blocking up streets? Is is possible to divert the lorries to the rear, down Portway?
I think we need to ask the District Council how they can help Faringdon re-develop and keep a foodstore in its centre. I think we need serious help with this.
Name Supplied
Busking in the town centre.
The Guinness Project will be in and around the town centre on Sat 23rd Jan from 11am. this is the first of several events/functions being organised by M.A.D.D.to raise funds for UNICEF.
Please come along,enjoy the music and help us.
Sam Prince
Oxfordshire's third Local Transport Plan (LTP3) which will set out the strategy for transport across the county for the next 20 years.
Consultation 4 on the draft policies is now under way and will close on Sunday 21 February 2010.
A list of the draft policies is available to download as a consultation documents. Please read the background document on how the Local Transport Plan has been developed to date.
This will also tell you how you can take part in the consultation.
Where possible we would encourage you to make your comments online. If you have any queries after reading the background document please contact Adam Kendall Ward on (01865) 815093.
The person who asked about bin collections might like to know that both our normal and recycling bins were collected today (we've only had one other since Christmas).
Unfortunately this is one and two days respectively before our normal collection days, so some will have missed it. I only saw one lorry so have a feeling the recycling went in with the refuse.
Name supplied
In reference to the recycling mess I'm pleased to say that the Vale have responded quickly to the call that I, and others, made to them and the Gloucester Street car park recycling was cleaned up today.
Citizen Smith (again)
The state of Gloucester St car park recycling bins on Tuesday 19 January.
I did report this to the Vale. They apologised and said it was weather related, but people keep adding to it.
Anybody visiting the town would not be very impressed would they?
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Has anyone noticed how well the Bloor Homes development is coming on ?. The variety of building materials and styles gives a very pleasing look under the Folly. This has been achieved by professionals being allowed to develop without too much ‘local naysay’ , ‘steering committee’ or subcommittee with personal unsupported ( or incorrect) bias. Only a pity that no road direct access into the town. The end result will hopefully be is a bonus to Faringdon.
Unlike the Market Place re- development, which was ill-conceived and built by a multitude of amateur committees and ‘council pet-projecteers’, resulted in the loss of probably 25+ short stay parking places and gave us an unremarkable and copycat style centre.
Please don’t let local short sightedness put a damper on giving us a proper supermarket. I vote for a full size, bigger the better, Tesco’s, Asda, Waitrose or anything to keep Faringdon alive.
Andy
The year is 2018.
Yes - In just eight years time we'll be celebrating the 800th anniversary of our Charter (1218) as a market town.
Will our wonderful Market Place be buzzing with life and vitality - or will it be dead?
That's now up to us.
600 metres (the proposed Park Rd site for a new supermarket) might as well be 600 miles away. Whichever way you spin it (yes - I HAVE suggested to the supermarket in question that they could install bike stations... ), people will NOT come into the Market Place from there.
Yes - you COULD argue that the Park Rd development won't exacerbate the Market Place problems (and that may partly be true, although it WILL undoubtedly lead to the closure of our existing supermarket) but let's not for one minute pretend that the site on Park Rd will HELP the Market Place. That's pure spin.
Yes - there's no doubt that the shopping experience in and around the Market Place could and should be vastly improved, and we all have our wish lists.
So - that's where we are now: A Market Place (and associated shops) that's hurting…
Do WE as a Community have the vision to change this, and to bring about the improvements that will address these challenges? Or putting the question slightly differently: is our rich 800 year legacy something we allow to be destroyed by doing nothing - or do we protect it & make thrive?
Question: What is it about the out-of-town supermarkets that sucks so many people into their cars and away from Faringdon to do their weekly food shop? I think we DO all know the answers to this …
And what is it that Witney (for example) gets right - and Wantage (for example) has done wrong? Again - it's really not too difficult to see the reasons.
It is clear that if you want the Town Centre to thrive then there are two absolutely vital ingredients that must be IN the town centre (not 600m away) :
- A MAJOR FOOD RETAILER with competitive pricing, good choice, quality, cleanliness, helpfulness, and with commitments to the community & to social responsibility ...
- PLENTY OF FREE-FOR-TWO-HOURS CONVENIENT PARKING on level ground immediately adjacent to the above
If we get these two ingredients right then the rest will follow. It will be the making of Faringdon, and in eight years time we'll be celebrating rather than commiserating.
Is this all just wishful thinking - or is this genuinely possible to achieve?
Yes - it's genuinely possible. Look at the map. Budgens + Portway + Catholic Car Park + Barclays Car Park gives you a substantial footprint that's equivalent to the proposed Park Rd site. We would be able to have a fantastic food retailer, and an extensive tree-lined car park - with free parking. A wonderful shopping experience for all in a beautiful 800-year-old market town.
Are there challenges in taking this approach? Of course.
Do we want to rise to these challenges?
That's now up to us.
Let's ALL set ourselves an eight year plan to get it right, so that we can all be celebrating in 2018. Getting this right really CAN be the making of Faringdon.
Sjoerd
M.A.D.D. will be organising events to raise funds for UNICEF for the Haiti disaster. please watch the what's on or www.maddfaringdon.co.uk
If you wish to be involved please contact us through our web site.
Sam Prince
Shop closures are already happening even without the arrival of Tesco and most people do their weekly shopping out of town, so surely the arrival of Tesco will encourage more people to stay and shop in Faringdon
The JDS site is a short walk from the Town Centre so people can easily access dentist, opticians, banks smaller retailers etc also there will be a substantial amount of new jobs created. I work in the hospitality trade in Faringdon, where the recent financial climate has hit quite hard. I am sure a lot of people in Faringdon, like me, are concerned about the future, but with houses and population continually expanding, we need something more than Budgens. We need to put in place the appropriate supermarkets that would keep people here and stop them going to Wantage or Swindon to other larger supermarkets
Jacqui Massey
I have just phoned my Dentist and heard a message that said they are taking on NHS clients.
There address is Broadshires Way Carterton Oxfordshire OX18 1JA
01993 867147
Julie Farmer
Good idea perhaps we could start by developing the corn Exchange into a usable building for all , considering live music is an art form .
are we about to be repopulated by red telephone boxes? with no connections.
Perhaps they belong to Dr.Who and have taken over from the tardis, certainly a bit of time travel there.
To be serious folks, fings aint what they used to be and the times, they are a changing.Elf and saftey , you know.
Sam Prince
I would like to know when the dustbin men will be around again? You can bet the council tax bills won't be late
Name supplied
Like many in Faringdon I don't have a problem with grit outside my home and if I had I would be tempted to sweep it and store it.
But as it is probably the property of the council would this be considered stealing ?
Name Supplied
There is obviously some confusion as to which council is responsible for what. Perhaps I can help.
Faringdon Town Council does not have the power to make planning decisions. It does,however, have considerable influence - particularly when working with other organisations in the town. For example, the last District Plan would have been a disaster for Faringdon. Working with the chamber of commerce and the health check steering group, we were able to persuade the District Council and the planning inspector to completely change it, we think to the benefit of the town.
It is interesting to note that most developers now talk to the FTC planning committee before making formal planning applications, in order to find out how the town thinks about their proposals.
There are other postings that demonstrate the problems people have with the various responsibilities. For example the posting from Rebnard Agent seems to imply that FTC could have made a decision about the disposal of the old health centre. That was in the ownership of the Health Authority and they made the decision. There was a sum of money passed to Faringdon Association of Residents which they used for the benefit of the town.
Similarly the youth centre is the responsibility of the County Council. They owned existing premises that they have spent a lot of money on in order to provide an excellent facility for our young people. I understand the misgivings about its location but let's hope that the excellent youth worker that the town now has can make it work.
Consultations take many forms. I remember the one about the town centre refurbishment (a responsibility of the District and County Councils). It was extensive and well informed. But remember being consulted does not mean being agreed with.
The way to really influence a consultation process is to be well informed and to have a sustainable and well thought through alternative. "I don't like it" is not enough. That's why we (FTC) are trying to get a well informed and consensus view through the "Our Faringdon - Our Future" group. The first meeting of which is on 21st January 7.00pm in the Old Town Hall.
In planning matters we are fortunate that, while the decisions on Faringdon's future will initially be made by the VWHDC, those decisions will be subject to an inspectors scrutiny and that of the secretary of state. So we have three bights at the cherry in trying to make our views count.
It is worrying that so many people seem to be despairing in their attitude to consultation and local influence. People matter and so do their opinions. We all matter far more than do the bureaucrats that are sometimes able to make decisions on our behalf. All it needs is for us to stand up and be counted - together.
Alan Hickmore FTC Chair of Planning
Curious as to why the Swan in Park Road is closed. Anyone throw any light ...?
Name Supplied
If you have facebook please become a friend of F.E.A.T (Faringdon Engagement Art Trust) http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&gid=252322496183#/group.php?gid=252322496183&ref=mf
We are hoping to work on future Pulic Art projects in Faringdon. More details will be posted on this site as we have them but you can post your early ideas on the new FB group now.
Sally Thurston
Hooray the snow has gone - but now we have the grit!
If last year was anything to go by it will take VWHDCs contractor (Veolia) weeks to sweep the pavements.
How good to see that some businesses are doing their bit by sweeping outside their premises. Hopefully more will - and residents too so the town looks less down at heel
Name Supplied
re FTC and VWHDC - 14/1/10
I understand that the Town Council has no power in planning matters although I believe it is doing its best to persuade the District Council Planners to increase the employment opportunities in Faringdon, if only the Town Council did have some power over planning matters! Why do lots of people seem to confuse the Town and District Councils - they are 2 separate bodies! Name Supplied
THEN: ON ANOTHER POST:
Signed by, Alan Hickmore ,FTC Chair of Planning
Does Alan Hickman, Chair of Planning FTC have any power over planning matters and if so how much over what? Can Alan please clarify?
CONFUSED.FARINGDON
Please come to the meeting in the Corn Exchange on the 26th. January to put your views to the District Council from 6.00 pm and the town council on the same date from 7.15 pm.
Consultations have sometimes not been real, if the people of our town respond in numbers this one could be.
Don't forget that the plans for the town last until 2026 and have far more effects than the retail consultation.
For more information, and to become involved in the process please attend the meeting of the "Our Faringdon our Future" meeting in the Old Town Hall on the 21st January.
Alan Hickmore FTC Chair of Planning
Sam Prince
I would like to make some observations to anyone intending to go to either of the two meetings listed in the What`s On section, viz:
Our Faringdon/Our Future (thur 21 Jan)
Shopping in Faringdon Consultation (tue 26 Jan)
I remember once speaking to a then member of the town council (who shall remain nameless), on the subject of the "improvements" to the market place a few years back. As regards the consultation process, when I asked him what proportion of responses recieved were negative he replied that these were in the order of 90%. Regardless of the wishes of the majority of people who had expressed an opinion, the then Mayor, proceeded to steam-roller it through anyway.
If this is "democracy" Faringdon style, then I don`t hold out much hope for those who wish to stop Tesco`s from doing what they want. Money always talks louder, and it is a fact that all sorts of deals go on behind the scenes when planning on this scale is taking place. Sometimes the developer will throw a "bung" at the council concerned, possibly along the lines of "if you grant us planning on this scheme, then we will build a leisure center for you", or a new health centre or whatever.
Talking of which, it is my understanding that the land on which the old Health Centre stands was given as a bequest to Faringdon in the 1890`s for the use of the people of Faringdon in perpetuity. If this was indeed the case, how come the developers got their hands on it????. Wouldn`t it have made a marvelous museum? And to those on the council who say "well yes, but it`s just that little bit too far out of the town centre", I would point out that the town council, in their infinite wisdom, have sited the new Youth Centre right out of the town. Do they think that the youth of Faringdon are going to walk nearly a mile out of town to get there? I think not.
The new Youth Centre has "failure" written all over it.
Renard Argent
Tesco - 16/1/10
That's an interesting point from name supplied who lives opposite the proposed Tesco site, that also raises an essential issue.
We all need to make sure our needs are addressed as Faringdon changes shape.
The reason Tesco has to do a public consultation is so that, if planning is granted, it is aware of the needs of local people and can accommodate these.
I think the three-lane plan sounds quite good - if it works well it might even be a better solution for Park Road residents than the current two-lane road.
But then I don't live on Park Road - much like the people who drew up the plans, presumably - so name supplied is in a much better position to advise on how the design should be altered.
I'd implore you to insist on being involved in the plans so that they work as a benefit for you, not a disadvantage. It's your right as a resident. And you shouldn't rely on others to fight your battles for you - as you rightly point out, stay quiet and they'll go for the least cost option.
If Tesco is successful it has the potential to change the town significantly. That change doesn't have to be for the worse. It's up to us to ensure any change truly benefits the town, whether that's with a Tesco or without.
My focus, for instance, is to ensure employment prospects for Faringdon are good, and they're severely under threat. And it's staggering how much noise you have to make before the District Council even bothers to listen.
Tom Allen-Stevens, Wicklesham Quarry
Having read the many comments for/against Tesco, I am mystified by the outrage expressed that Tesco seems to want to operate 'for profit' Why else does any trader/business wish to operate? Tesco is big and successful because it does it better. If we didnt't live in a supermarket culture we wouldn't have Budgens, we'd still have the flourishing small grocers and other traders that were here forty years ago.
Why can't we allow the town centre to keep the attractive architecture but develop the usage more imaginatively instead of insisting on trying to turn the clock back?
If the town centre 'refurbishment' with its reduced parking places and traffic chaos is anything to go by however, please don't let the local planning authority have anything to do with it!
Name supplied
So jealous of London Street, the whole of Longcot was still under ice when I left this morning. Maybe today will be the day the roads and paths are free of ice and snow, and the rubbish and re cycling will have been taken?????
Chris Higgs
Anyone know if trees with a TPO (Tree Protection Order) in Faringdon are listed on the VOWH web site?
There were supposedly over 30 trees with a TPO (2004 date) on the Bloor Homes site at the old Tuckers Nursery, how can one find out which they were as Bloor have just started to remove most of the remaining mature trees this week. Fair enough if they are in the way of a road or house or drains, but Bloor Homes did say they would relocate mature trees on the site where ever possible and allocated space on the plans for where these would go, looks like they have a short memory when convenient.
Name Supplied
If Tesco do build in Park Road and provide free parking so their customers can walk into town to use all the local shops, will our money grabbing local authority who can't find Faringdon in the snow or provide the same level of services they do in Abingdon make their car parks in Faringdon free as well?
Witney got it right !!!!!!!
Name Supplied
Just to clarify the Council situation....
The OCC, Oxford County Council, is located in Oxford
The VWHDC, Vale of White Horse District Council, is located in Abingdon
The FTC, Faringdon Town Council, is located in Faringdon
Simple ! !
What are their responsibilities ?
Not so simple...
But I think Gene knows ! !
Meerkat
I understand that the Town Council has no power in planning matters although I believe it is doing its best to persuade the District Council Planners to increase the employment opportunities in Faringdon, if only the Town Council did have some power over planning matters!
Why do lots of people seem to confuse the Town and District Councils - they are 2 separate bodies!
Name Supplied
The pavements in London Street from Market Place to the Mayflower have been gritted!
Better late than never?
Sheila
As residents of Park Road, my husband and I went to the "viewing" at the Corn Exchange. We did have a personnel invite from Green issues to come to our house because we live so close to the proposed site, but we were not available on the day they wanted to come. We spoke to someone from the highways about the road widening and the entrance and exit to the store. They are making a turning lane along Park Road, so making three lanes!! Also they are putting in some extra zebra crossings. This is right outside our house.
We have always had problems getting onto our drive, we follow the highway regs and always reverse in so we can drive out. This seems to bother other car users, they seem too object to having to slow down to let us in. I pointed this to the lady from highways, she said the speed limit was 30mph and we shouldn't have any problems! She also said a feasibility study was done and this was the best solution. So with three lanes of traffic, a crossing, a new store to contend with how do we get onto our drive?
When asked about alternative entrance IE Regal Way, we were told it would require planning permission and the one they have chosen is cheaper. We are not against a new supermarket in Faringdon, we too travel to do our shop, but this seems just to be for profit and with no consideration for our town.
We will certainly make our opinions heard at the council meeting!
Name Supplied
Is any one else planning on attending Joe Moores new choir hes starting up?
The first meetings next Tuesday. I'm very keen to go, but don't have a car. Any chance I can lift share with anyone?
You can contact me at emn2111@yahoo.co.uk
Many thanks
Emma Riddle
Yesterday 13th January we met with the representatives of Tesco's in the Corn exchange. We arrived very much anti there plans to build another store on the outskirts of Faringdon. We left without our views being changed. They admitted that they were just building another food store twice the size of Budgens but of course better because Tesco's were better retailers than Budgens.
When asked why they were opening a new store in this area their reply was 'To compete with Sainsbury's'. When it was pointed out to them that it would take business away for from the centre of town they replied 'shoppers will park at Tesco's and walk the quarter of a mile into town'!!!!
When questioned on the use of local produce {like Budgens has tried} they could only say that Tesco's now bought all its meat in the UK!!! They said that the store will only sell food household goods and toiletories and that a covenant would be put into any agreement specifying the range of activities in the store they also said that they had no plans to expand around the site.
I think many will have experienced creeping change and expansion after initial approval!!!!!
The Tesco's representative said that we now live in a supermarket society and nothing could be done about it!!!! So not surprisingly they want to build a store for commercial and competative reasons only and have no interest in the effect this will have on the centre of the ancient market town of Faringdon. Faringdon town centre is struggling now and Tesco's will only make things worse. This cannot be argued with, we are surrounded by examples of what results from a supermarket chain moving into a town.
Why not Town and District Council don't you show the courage to set an example to stop this blight spreading across the landscape of England and prepare vigorous plans to rejuvinate the center of Faringdon????
Barry and Sue Eames
Documents are viewable with a Mac. No problem at all.
Ifor Phillips
When I commented on this subject it was done as an observation as to the possibilities why there is a demise in the local music scene which Leslie Owers (caretaker of council venues) has endorsed for me.
The point made about the C/W nights seems a little strange as there numbers have been diminishing over the last five months and they seriously considered closing the club. Thankfully that has not happened. But it does bear out the problems that face us all in this economic climate.
Less people out and about ,less money to go around. we will continue with our open mic monthly event because that has less outlay and has a dedicated support. As for" people might not like me", Well that happens.
Sam Prince
Dear/ Sir Madame.
I have recently brought a large manor house on the outskirts of Faringdon and have seen a great opportunity to use the Folly light for the extension of my vigilante adventures.
I would be looking to place a large "Bat Symbol" on the light. This can be used to to attract my attention to some of the nuisances the town experiences. i.e kids skateboarding in town, dog foul offenders and bad parking etc.
I am also open to the possibility of gritting some of the roads in town. (If my butler Alfred can assist!)
Can someone please pass on my details to the Folly people.
Kind Regards
Bruce W
So Name Supplied "noticed that Budgens had taken 95% of the offers from the shelves during the worst of the bad weather"
Budgens supplies come from their central warehouse which is how it has always been, and if the lorry cannot get through, neither can the offers - if they are there. And if the final offer date comes round, the offer is discontinued, with hopefully the next round of offers coming in in time to be put on the shelves.
All supermarkets are having a tough time getting deliveries with the weather and if we had a Tesco in Faringdon just now it would be no different.
A friend who works in Asda tells me that they have suspended their online shopping and are only delivering within their immediate areas because they can't get their own supplies delivered to their stores.
I do agree with the other poster about the staff in Budgens - most are lovely, helpful, friendly and funny, but some really do need a kick up the bottom. It should not be a case of 'we don't get paid enough to pack' it should be a case of 'it's part of my job', and nothing is more annoying than my shopping being put in with the person's in front.
"They" used to say 'manners maketh the man' but people seem to be more concerned with 'what's in it for me'. It's just plain rude.
An Old-Fashioned Girl
Re "Planning Matters" posted 05/01/2010 I have followed the link to the council published documents and get a pdf icon with text missing that does not open. I have tried to view the documents without success several times - are they Mac unfriendly or just not working?
Name Supplied
Ed(GW) works for me- not a mac
If anyone should find a 2 little keys on a silver coloured heart keyring somewhere between Renaissance hairdressers, budgens and Martins, would they please call me on 07725 041127?
Thanks very much for your help. Sue
i for one am all for tesco's coming in to faringdon, for cheaper food, free parking and the jobs it will bring, but looking through all the comments all anyone wants to do is moan about the staff at budgens, i use the shop often for the essentials, and the majority of the staff are friendly, patient and helpfull. at any shop you go to there is going to be at least 1 person that gets your goat. if they are being rude why not speak to them at that time, & if it persists theres management, and still if nothings done dont go to that till! in my expereince of ratty and rude service its usually down to the ratty and rude customers that they have had to serve! so why not give them a break for a while, im sure it wont be long before you target another shop, hey what about the post office or boots?
Name supplied
I've just been to the Tesco presentation. I talked to the architect who admitted that despite having pots of money Tesco was not willing to come up with designs appropriate to the achitecture of Faringdon. He also said that the private businesses round the site would not be selling up so there was little chance of any kind of link to the market place.
It would be a basic place selling the cheapest food in the cheapest of possible ways .
Perhaps that is what some of Faringdon wants. I would have preferred to have a decent shop in the centre of Faringdon - a Co-op would be good and would have the ethical pedigree we have come to expect in Faringdon.
I agree with another correspondent that Budgens has blown it over the years by being - at times empty of food! and certainly not well -stocked. Though I agree they did well over the snow days.
What I feel is that a Theatre, a Museum,and a concert area, would be far more likely to bring people into Faringdon that a rock bottom cheap supermarket.
Felicity Cormack
with exception of one in a whole year of madds jam club sessions they have only around ten people support these events each month.which would suggest that either live music or sam prince is unpopular in faringdon!?
no one could make any money when only a handful of people turn up to a live music eve that is free entry and costs £400 to stage.bit of a no brainer!
what is even stranger is fargo country music club have a live band play in the corn exchange through the noise limitor every month with very little disruption, a small entry fee on the door and many regular supporters.
Leslie Owers
Between Thursday 31st December and Monday 11th January a property in Radcot Road, Faringdon was subject to a burglary. Offender has smashed a ground floor window. Possibly disturbed by the alarm. URN 807 of 11th January refers.
Between Monday 28th December and Monday 11th January theft of approx 700 litres of diesel was taken from Park Road, Faringdon. Entry gained through the fence and offenders have been on foot in the yard.
Between Saturday 9th January and Monday 11th January approx 30 litres of diesel was stolen from a community bus in Lansdown Road, Faringdon.
Please be extra vigilant and report any suspicious people or vehicles in the area to the Police.
If you have any information relating to this message, please call the Police on 08458 505 505 and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message.
If the "Name Supplied" had read the small print on the special offer labels they would have seen the period the offers were set to run for - most were due to end on 06/01/2010 - and stocked up while the offer was running.
The timing of the snow was coincidental.
Rachel Kenward
Hitherto I haven’t entered into the Tescos/Budgens debate but having seen some of the comments on Talking Points and following a visit to Budgens this morning I’ve decided to write.
It has been my experience ever since Budgens took over from Carters that, whilst the majority of the staff are friendly, there are the odd one or two who find it difficult to speak, smile, or say thanks to customers. Some have been there for a long time and I’m surprised that the manager has done nothing about this.
This morning I got grumbled at by a member of staff who was having difficulty with her till. One of them was asleep at his till when I went in one evening a couple of weeks ago. On wakening, he said he'd been to a long party the night before.
This small minority of staff, who seem incapable of even giving customers eye contact or saying “thanks”, let the whole team down as far as I’m concerned and, sometimes make the Budgens shopping experience quite unpleasant.
In addition, it seems the ‘norm’ that staff (a) never offer to help customers with packing a bag, and (b) start serving the next customer before the existing one has finished packing. When asked why staff never help with packing a till operator told me “we’re not paid enough to do that”.
Having been a customer for many years, I, like many others continue to use Budgens only for small, convenience shopping. I prefer to use other supermarkets such as Tescos and Sainsburys for my main shopping because the prices are lower and parking is plentiful and free. The staff always offer help with packing, never rush to serve the next customer and also offer a wide range of discounts, club cards and discount petrol. I say – forget the planning meetings and delays, let’s get Tescos here in Faringdon as soon as we can.
Budgens management have had ample time to ward off the threat but have done little or nothing to avert it. Adding extra space to Budgens is certainly not the answer if the prices remain uncompetitive and the minority of staff who badly let the whole team down aren’t dealt with.
Name Supplied
Notes I made:
Planning application for a Format 15 store(15k sq ft) will be submitted in February for the JDS site
Format 15 is a new type of store run on environmentally friendly lines
It will be a food store with some health and beauty and other non food products - flowers, news, DVDs,CDs, books
The range will be adjusted according to the local needs
Tesco will listen to suggestions and discussions of the range- eg clothes
There will be 137+16 special parking spaces with up to 3 hours free parking. The car park will be policed if it becomes congested
They will stock local produce
It will employ about 100 people
Likely to be open 0800-2200, 7 days a week ish
It could be open in 18 months
There will be 106 money that could improve the bus service, local bus and walk into Faringdon square- it is up to the town to bid for what they think is needed (FTC? Chamber?)
Over 80% of families shop out of Faringdon. It is believed that many of these will shop in Faringdon, saving time and travel costs, perhaps for spending at shops in the Market Square.
Tesco said they have no evidence that there is insufficient food business for both Budgens and Tesco.
Tesco have found that other major chains follow the supermarkets - so Faringdon could attract other major stores in the future.
Go to the Corn Exchange 12th and 13th to see the plans and give your views
Gene Webb
According to local newspapers Tesco are planning a retail floorspace of 15,000 Sq Ft (1394 SM).
The VWDC leaflet talks about extending Budgens from 1000 to 1400 SM. Wikipedia gives the average size of a Tesco Superstore at 30,000 Sq Ft and a Metro Store at 11,600 Sq Ft.
Name Supplied
I noticed that Budgens had taken 95% of the offers from the shelves during the worst of the bad weather.
They may have made sure they had produce but they made certain they made a good profit from it.
They need some competition.
Roll on Tescos.
Name Supplied
Love the pic of the pay machines in the car park....we will take your money but give nothing in return.
We went back to work at FCC today. 25 teachers spent friday clearing the snow to make this possible.
OCC was asked to clear Fernham Road and the roads around the school..... still waiting, it was so dangerous I am scared to have to to go again tomorrow.
Name Supplied
It is funny to see the photo of Citizen Smith. Which clearly show the priority of the council (which one, I do not care).
I applaud the people who do the actual gritting, they do a difficult job and are out and about before we get out of bed. They do what they have been told by the council and do an excellent job.
As said above, it is funny to see what has priority. This morning I was in Wantage and I was surprised about the colour of the roads and sidewalks in the center of Wantage. It was light brown (you know that Grit brown colour). The center of Wantage was gritted and not using just a little bit of grit.
Seeing this I had hopes that it would be the same in Faringdon, well how wrong was I. Arriving back in Faringdon and noticed the clear lack of grit in the center of town.
A couple of other examples of the council’s strange way of prioritising gritting in Faringdon.
1) You would expect Park road to be important as it is the entrance for the Fire Services to the A420. Again, no gritting in the first days of the snow.
2) The first part of Volunteer Way towards the medical center. You see they gritted the road going up the hill but it stopped 20 to 30 meters before the roundabout to the medical center.
I do not know which council sets the priorities (District or County). I know it is not the local council and I also know that they will very quickly point the finger to somebody else, but the local council should have applied more pressure to get more gritting done in Faringdon.
The Dutch Snowman
 |
The only place that was gritted in the whole of
Southampton Street Car Park car park on Wednesday/Thursday this last week were
these few feet by the parking ticket machines. Never mind that all around there were icy and dangerous pavements as well as the car park itself. Draw your own conclusions of the Vale's priorities. Citizen Smith |
Also, they both only seem to come once a year. And you may be left with a sense of disappointment after their visit as your expectations and hopes are dashed
David
Sorry to hear your going at the end month we will miss you especial George
Name Supplied
Firstly, does anyone have the proposed Tesco footprint to hand so I can compare with the footprint of Budgens?
I don't care whether this is is in square feet or cubic meters, I just need numbers.
Secondly, can I say how sorry I am that Kate and Lee are moving on from the Old Crown. I can understand their decision but it is still not without regret.
Mike Perks
They have been working around the clock i know this because I'm one of the drivers while your tucked up in your warm bed,so Collin if you don't like it pick a shovel up and do it yourself.
If u want to complain go to the government, your a bit out dated it's not poll tax it's council tax!
Well done to all work force give yourself a pat on the back for all the hard work.
Name Supplied
An urban Myth ith a young lady who livth in a thity
Jonathan Ross
Yes, it is true that we are leaving at the end of January. Whilst being here we have made great friends who have always supported things we have done. We have continually tried new ideas and also created a great menu!
It is just unfortunate that after 8 months we have made a personal decision to leave.
Unfortunately, at this stage we are unaware as to who will be replacing or what the plans for the future are.
We would like to thank all those that have supported us, especially the other Landlords/Landladys who have always been on hand to assist us when needed.
Kate & Lee
It is out there,but not as we knew it. there are several reasons for this and the first is the lack of support for live music.As a promoter and a member of M.A.D.d. we have tried running the Jam Club for over a year. These have been free entrance and as a rule cost us £400-00 per gig. this is because we wish to try and make it a special event.
The other reason, as far as we're concerned is the ridiculous level of the limiter settings in the Corn Exchange. We took on the franchise of the bar at the Corn Exchange to subsidise the events we wished to promote, unfortunatley the ammount of use of the bar has made it more of a liability then an asset. Perhaps this is a result of the limits that are put upon hirers.
I sincerly hope this will change when a huge ammount of public money is spent on refurbishing the venue.According to Mr.Price (Chairman of the venues committee)"The corn exchange will never be a live music venue".
Where is the money going to come from to support the corn exchange?
Sam Prince
Urban Myths. What sort of creature is that Inspector Clouseau ?
Colin
So where is the live music in Faringdon?
The 'What's On' page shows nothing apart from Sing Faringdon and Jam Club Open Mike sessions from now until December. Maybe it's out there, somewhere, but landlords don't think publicity is necessary?
Sheila
ED(GW) Please do send details of any local events for our Whatson
Oh dear - the current management is leaving at the end of January- they haven't been there long
What is it about that place that makes it so difficult for anyone to make it a successful business.
Faringdon needs it (and The Bell) to be thriving businesses
Name Supplied
Gritting Lorries have a lot in common with Father Christmas.
We would all like to believe in them both despite the fact that few of us have actually seen either !
HGM
I agree that Faringdon needs a much larger and more convenient supermarket to attract the local weekly shopping, but the current consultation is for a slightly bigger Budgens or a duplicate of Budgens.
Name Supplied
Ed(GW) the one on 26th is about shopping in Faringdon, the the one next week- 12th and 13th is a TESCO consultation
Well done and thank you to the manager's and staff at Budgen's for doing their very best to ensure that there was a constant supply of 'the basics' over the last few days. Deliveries have been arriving twice daily and I have it on good authority that the manager has made several trips to wholesalers to replenish ransacked stocks, they have also sourced additional meat supplies locally. I doubt Mr Sainsbury and Mr Tesco would not have done the same! The staff have remained polite and good humoured despite, I'm sure, a constant barrage of moaning and abuse from those who only ever use the shop 'if they really have to'. I might not have been as polite to just 'grunt' at moaning busy bodies! Anyone would have thought that we were expecting the holocaust not a few inches of snow!
This morning the store was well stocked with fresh produce and this afternoon milk, bread etc were still readily available and the staff were still slogging away...with smiles on their faces!
So well done and three cheers for Mr Tiensa and his team, keep up the good work.
Nicola Woolford
On behalf of the Budgens in Faringdon management, I would like to thank our loyal customers who have been patient and who have appreciated our efforts to keep the town stocked up with produce over the last week.
Once again, thank you
Sarah Harries
If they have been in the town, why are the roads so atrocious. The road past Barclays up to the car park is really nasty, the Pitts Estate is awful, but go to Clanfield, Carterton and they are a lot better.
Glad to see that the whole of the Poll Tax isnt an entire waste.
Colin
The Chamber of Commerce has a meeting on Monday at the Portwell House Cellar Bar from 6pm and our guest this month is Felix Gummer of Tesco.
He will be discussing the plans for the proposed Faringdon store.
Our meetings are open to all - anyone can come
Jane Haynes
Colin, re. gritters I have seen the gritters going through Faringdon at least twice...
Anne Rogers
Updated information about waste collection - reverts to 'normal' from Monday.
See http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news_views/press_releases/article.asp?id=tcm:4-7042&rtn=D
Sheila
For your information, Colin, I saw a gritting lorry in the town centre last night at approximately 10.40.
Local council paying overtime to hard working drivers so that we can get around.
name supplied
Liz the leisure centre has not been kept open during the bad weather. It was closed on wednesday.Staff were unable to get inringdon leisure centre Liz the leisure centre has not been kept open during the bad weather. It was closed on wednesday.Staff were unable to get in
Name Supplied
If Dee England also knew 4 days prior to the snow fall why didn't she stock up!!
Budgens has come up trumps with the basics sourcing supplies elsewhere and restocking. Three cheers for the staff for their committment. I don't expect Tesco's would go that extra mile.
Perhaps Dee is looking for a job there!!!!
Name Supplied
Just wanted to thank the staff at the Faringdon Leisure Centre who have kept it open despite the snow and cold.
I can assure you it is very much appreciated
Liz Cunningham
Gene asked what we can do to influence the Local Development Framework and the Core Strategy contained within it. The answer is that we can speak with one voice as a Town - and do it loudly and often. I was concerned that we may be too late and that the consultation that was carried out this time last year was our last opportunity. Fortunately this is not the case. According to an email from Peter Williams (Principle Planning Officer at the Vale) the core strategy (final draft) will be published in June and will then go before an inspector at a public examination when he will consider all objections and representations. His report is binding on the council.
So that we can put our voice together the FTC P&H committee has formed a working group called Our Faringdon/Our Future to which all organisations and individual Townspeople are invited to join as co-opted members (by doing it this way we will have the advantage of FTC administration back up and premises as well as being automatically constituted). The date of the first meeting of this group is on 21st January at 7.00pm in the Old Town Hall. Everybody who is interested in the future of our Town is welcome.
An agenda is available from the Town Clerk and will be displayed on the notice board outside the Corn Exchange. We used a very similar method last time a District Plan was being prepared and it worked.
We can do it again.
Please come along and get involved.
Alan Hickmore FTC Chair of Planning
...who managed, despite ridiculous panic buying, to keep us supplied with bread and milk; the staff who manage the bakery section worked tirelessly to ensure that there was bread on the shelf and milk was sourced from elsewhere.
It's far to easy to criticise but the truth of the matter is that we are always unprepared for these one off weather events and panic buying took its effects in supermakets across the area - not just Budgens ... and as for attitude of staff - the staff had made it in despite concerns about their own children and families and were doing their best to be helpful and kind.
Name Supplied
The vast majority of residents never take part in public consultations. Consultations are a statutory necessity but I think they are a waste of time and money, there to give the illusion that our opinions are important. Sometimes though, the vociferous few with strong interests and opinions, however whimsical, give the impression that they are representative of the majority. Sensible research relies on proven fact and observation of what the majority actually do, not on what the few say that they want.
Most of the local comment that I have heard seems not to be about the site of the new retail area but whether to allow an additional supermarket at all i.e. Tesco.
Faringdon's population at the last census (nine years ago) was 7.000+ and with that of the larger surrounding villages was in excess of 15,000. Now it will be considerably larger, and will continue to grow. Of this number a substantial proportion will be shoppers. If Faringdon is to attract local villagers at all, and support a growing population then a much larger, more convenient supermarket – comparable to those in other towns - than the present Budgens is needed. (I have nothing against Budgens and shop there myself often, but I do my main shopping elsewhere, like virtually everyone else I know). The present town centre site and car park cannot be extended very much, whatever we may be told. A free car park will also be far more usable than the present tedious pay-and-punch-in-your-registration-number arrangement.
Faringdon, until comparatively recently comprised a tiny population. The future town centre will continue to change, as it has over the past few hundred years. It may be regrettable in some ways, but it is inevitable. Better surely to allow for future growth and attract out-of-town shoppers in, than to shoehorn a little bit of extra retail space into the centre for short term conservatism while continuing to drive people elsewhere.
name supplied
Personally I would like to see the Budgens site updated with an improvement to the parking facilities and loading area.
Also in favour of Budgens, I have never found the staff to be impolite, on the contrary, they are usually very helpful when, as a mere man, I can't find what I want.
Maybe it's dependent on ones own attitude what response is received.
Mike Perks
I found it very easy to respond to the VWHDC's leaflet - I just used the email address they supplied and had an acknowledgement from the Chief Planning Officer, all on the 30th December!
Name Supplied
I imagine the funds for the gritting operations in far flung places such as Faringdon and the rest of the VWHDC, have been diverted to keep the heating on at County Hall.
Dont forget, our County Council are myopic!
Colin
Have your say on how VWHDC intend to reduce the budget by 5% (about £1m) 2010-2011.
I could see where the budget will be reduced, but not the detail of how this would affect the service, except for:
- Closure of the Wantage local services point, saving around £160,000 a year. The services point is used by a relatively small number of people and offers a costly method of dealing with basic transactions such as ordering brown bins, paying council tax or seeking information about council services
- significantly reducing spending on sports development from £150,000 to £50,000. Sports development is not a priority for the council and the revised level of spend reflects this
- reducing spending on grants to outside bodies, particularly through withdrawing funding for one-off grants in 2010/11,
- saving £100,000 reducing various special responsibility allowances for councillors, including those to leader and deputy leader; overall saving £25,000
- removing essential car user allowances from those staff that undertake low levels of official mileage; ultimate saving £80,000
- modest increases in various car parking charges to generate extra income of £71,000, offset by offering free parking in all car parks after 4.00 pm.
So how does the increase in parking charges fit with the shopping in Faringdon Strategy- how does increasing car park charges support this?
What will be done to work more efficiently to continue services- there must be plenty of possibilities in an organisation that spends £17m pa- perhaps they're still planning how to do it!
You can read about the proposals, read the press releaseand give you views by emailing communications@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Gene Webb
Corn Exchange 12th 2.30- 8pm, 13th 1000 to 5pm
Make sure you make your views known
In response to Dee England's comments, you obviously did not observe the panic buying that took place Monday and Tuesday, with the impending 'end of life as we know it' due to the snow.
Interestingly, I have it on good authority that there was a tannoy annoucement in Sainsbury's at Stratton on Tuesday lunchtime apologising for the queues due to unprecendented customer numbers because of the bad weather, akin to Christmas Eve apparently...
Also, I popped into the Co-op in Highworth on Monday evening on my way home and that was suffering too from a lack of stock for exactly the same reason I would imagine. I have tonight observed a Budgens lorry off-loading outside the store at 8.30pm, some 2 hours later than it normally arrives, fair play to the driver for making it through.
Here's hoping Dee you'll be happy to get involved in the public meetings at the end of the month when we as a town have our chance to give our views on retailing in our town.
David Keeble
I went into Budgen's 10:00am Wednesday morning,there were people in there I have never seen in the shop before buying four/five loaves of bread at a time and countless pints of milk. I managed to get bread and milk and unlike these panic buyers only brought what I needed.
I have spoken to people who did venture outside of Faringdon who found that the bigger stores were in the same situation, panic buying cannot be forecast by stores no matter who they are. I have been told by the staff at Budgens that the manager made several trips to the wholesalers to keep as much on the shelves as he could, and at 6pm tonight there was still plenty of sliced bread on the shelves.
If you feel that bad about the shop, don't go in there and struggle to get to Sainsbury's/Tesco's.
I wonder if there will be the same comments if Tesco's come into town and they run out of bread and milk, because they won't go to a wholesaler to get extra stock.
D Thomas
Thanks to the young man who spent all morning pushing cars that got stuck up the radcot road hill and in town. It was good to see that public spirit is not lost. Eventually the gritting lorry did turn up, thus rendering his services unnecessary.
Name Supplied
Faringdon needs a large supermarket and more so if it is to sustain an increase in the local population.
Let it be Budgens in the centre of town or Tesco on Park Road but let's protect our historic conservation area and not plough another access road through into the heart of our community
Name Supplied
How long have we known we are going to get snow over next few days? At least 4days. And here we are Bugdens with NO stock Thats why we need another supermarket.
The manager should preplan with staff from Faringdon who can get into work. No excuses for Stock and staff. If Tescos come in we would have stock to enable villages and faringdon town to shop in Faringdon. We also may get a better personal touch.
The staff training in Budgens needs to be improved. Some staff are well known for grunting at you.
Competition would be good for Budgens raise standards lower prices.
Dee England
Noel Diamond
Supermarkets have already decimated local shopping everywhere- and continue to do so. This includes Budgens (formerly Carters) here.
Why do Budgens sell cards, take out coffee, kitchen goods, news, rent DVDs, flowers etc - (and for a while dry cleaning) when all these can be bought in the town elsewhere. Why do Martins the newsagent sell groceries?
Can it be for profit?
If existing retail businesses cannot cooperate in the interest of the whole community and all their businesses then they are much less likely to be able to deter a Tesco or equivalent giant. I almost feel they deserve what they get!
They need to get their act together!
A Tesco food shop sells 80% food and 20% other things - this 20% (if you believe Tescos) will be decided with local businesses and community.
Something like 80% of people (I think) do their main shopping outside Faringdon. Probably high numbers of people from villages also use Swindon/Wantage supermarkets. Wouldn't it be better if they came to Faringdon for their big shop?
At least there is a chance that they may visit the shops in the square - if the free parking is long enough, the route to town is pleasant enough and the shops sell what people want!
Name Supplied
Having trawled through the VoWHDC web site in a planning quest similar to that described by the late Douglas Adams, I at last found where you can submit a response to the "Shopping in Faringdon" consultation.
Currently there are "no" responses, which is surprising as I responded yesterday. If this has been posted earlier I have missed it sorry.
The link is: http://ldfweb.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ldf/php/ShowRepresentations.php?doc=16&state=
(You will need to register to comment)
which is reached by making the right guesses from, in reverse order:
http://ldfweb.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ldf/php/ShowConsultations.php
http://ldfweb.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ldf/php/Index.php
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/planning/planning_policy/detailpage-6980.asp
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/website/search.asp
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news_view/press_releases/article.asp?id=tcm:4-6994&rtn=D
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/
Arthur Dent would have been proud! (And the CIA baffled). I wonder if this was why there where no "Negative Responses" in the Town Square Improvements consultation.
Mike Perks
ED(GW) I had a go at this - as well as being difficult to find, some of the questions in 'Core Strategy' language were impossible for me to answer- (I didn't understand them)- and yet the form requires you to - I guessed the answers!! I intend to tell the Vale what I think of this at their consultation at the end of the month
Wherever does Mark Harrison get his non-practical ideas from? Where does he think a link road from the Lechlade road should go - right through the Junior School's playing fields, or through the fields from the sewage works?
Simon Tiensa's Budgeons will be updated just as soon as the Tesco application is refused. One cannot expect him to put large sums of money into the refurbishment he wants to do if his shop is to lose his customers. The Southampton Street Car Park can easily be updated to hold more cars as the VWHDC is proposing, and the Market Place would become more vibrant if only the VWHDC would cease to charge for parking for one hour stays.
Faringdon does not need one of the largest supermarkets. Remember the disasters that have befallen Wantage, Didcot and Wallingford. Our local shops - two butchers, flower shop, card shops, two banks, two pharmacies, fair trade shop and a book shop will never survive, and yet they are the very best that any town could wish for.
We know that Tesco crucifies small business as they also crucify their suppliers.
Name supplied
For those that are interested, the Town Council has now published on its website (under The Council, Published documents) a number of papers that may make the FTC position clearer.
Within these papers there is also a precis of some of the planning guidance under which planning authorities have to work.
The documents are:
FTC Development Strategy
FTC Response to the Draft Preferred Options (Feb 2009)
Response to the VWHDC evidence base.
Core Strategy Report.
The draft core options report is available on the VWHDC website.
Alan Hickmore
FTC Chair of Planning
PS: There are a number of things that local people can do to influence the final outcome. I will be suggesting a possibility to the P&H committee tonight and will expand on the proposal on this site tomorrow.
i would like to congratulate andy and his staff in the red lion for a lovely meal just before christmas we had a great night and will definately recommend the red lion to friends and family well done
Jane Lewis